The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
February 17, 2007 Saturday
State Edition
Invisible champ’s mission
by DAVID LEWIS
YOU could not miss world champion boxer Vic Darchinyan as he greeted
the media ahead of his latest title defence yesterday — he was just
about the only one there.
Hurt and embarrassed at being ”invisible”, the Armenian immigrant
vowed to punch his way to prominence, starting with the
”destruction” of Mexican Victor Burgos in California on March 3.
Darchinyan — flanked by his IBF and IBO flyweight belts and rows of
near empty seats — outlined plans to challenge Anthony Mundine.
Sandwiches went uneaten and complimentary coffee and tea grew tepid
at the unglamorous Auburn RSL as the man with a 27-0 record —
including 21 KOs — expressed incredulity at being bigger in Armenia
and the US then he is here.
”Yes, it hurts a little,” he said. ”I don’t know what more I have
to do. I’ve been here seven years, won all my titles boxing for
Australia and I want people to back me.”
Respected Ring Magazine tends to agree, voting the ”Raging Bull”
the sixth most exciting boxer on earth in a recent poll.
”I’ve got a big cabinet at home which I aim to fill by becoming the
best pound-for-pound fighter out there,” added Darchinyan, looking
more mail clerk than mauler in his civvies.
While his bout with Burgos will be lucky to find a TV time slot on
delay with the Main Event event Channel, it will be live on Showtime
in the States and it will top the breakfast bill in Armenia where
citizens of the capital Yerevan will delay going to work to catch
their idol at work.